Ketogenic diet in the treatment of refractory continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the ketogenic diet on electroclinical characteristics and cognitive function in children with continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS).

Methods: Five children (four boys, one girl) aged between 8 and 13 years with CSWS refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including levetiracetam, and steroids were included. The prospective electroclinical assessment was performed prior to the ketogenic diet and once every 6 months post initiation during the 2-year period.

[Valproate treatment during pregnancy: description of four cases with foetal valproate syndrome].

Introduction: Treatment with valproate is associated with an increased risk of teratogenicity compared to other antiepileptic drugs and can cause a complex of serious symptoms usually referred to as "foetal valproate symdrome" which is characterised by major and minor malformations in association with developmental delay. This paper aims to give attention to the syndrome through four case descriptions. Furthermore, possible risk factors and the use of the mutation 677C-T as a risk marker are discussed.

[Comorbidity in children with epilepsy. II: Aetiology].

A search of the literature of studies on comorbidity in children with idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy and its aetiology revealed few prospective longitudinal studies of evidence class II. There were too few studies on aetiology to determine the causes with certainty, but psychosocial factors seem vital, thus emphasizing the importance of information and support to the child and its family, including siblings. The cognitive and behavioural effect of antiepileptic medicine (other than phenobarbital) seems modest when AED is used monotherapeutically.

[Comorbidity in children with epilepsy. I: Behaviour problems, ADHD and intelligence].

A search of the literature of studies on comorbidity in children with idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy revealed very few prospective longitudinal studies. The tendency was that children with epilepsy had a greater prevalence of comorbidity than healthy children, but more prospective longitudinal studies are needed to show the exact prevalence, grade and character. Behaviour problems seem to occur before the children have seizures, i.

[Epilepsy surgery of Danish children 1996-2002].

Introduction: Epilepsy surgery is done in order to obtain seizure freedom or to reduce the number of epileptic seizures in selected patients not responding to medical treatment. Few Danish children have had this treatment, most probably because of some restrictions imposed by The Danish National Health Board. We present the results of the first 22 Danish children who have had epilepsy surgery.